<p>So, you've decided you don't want to live in dorms anymore, you're not in a sorority or frat or other group that provides housing, and it's looking like you're going to be renting pretty darn soon.<br>
How does everyone else go about this?</p>
<p>Craigslist. Community Housing Office. Campus newspaper. Bulletin boards.</p>
<p>... yellowpages or just drive around campus and go to the leasing offices of any apartment/townhome you like. If you want a house it is a bit more difficult but there are normally big leasing companies that own like 30 houses on campus and you can go to them to see whats open.</p>
<p>What about once you've found a place? How do people handle things like the food bill, houseguests, furniture, and other such things? Particularly in larger groups, when it's harder to just verbally work things out.</p>
<p>Keep it to smaller groups. Seriously, what I've learned is that I never want a communal space with more than 3/4 people responsible, tops, because it just gets too complicated.</p>
<p>I live in a 4 person house: We all buy our own groceries, and take turns buying milk or things we use to make a group dinner once in awhile. Houseguests aren't a real issue--if someone has someone stay over they can stay in their room or the couch. They just know that it should only be a few nights, or maybe a week or two in summer for someone from far away. We talk about it beforehand. Furniture is best if each person contributes a piece or two. If you split the price of stuff, no one really owns it, and when someone moves out you have to figure out a depreciated price to give them for the furniture split between everyone, or lose a piece of furniture.</p>
<p>In a college house, seating (couch, etc) and a dining room table is all you really need. Someone will likely have a TV. Pots/dishes aren't too bad to buy a few or even better--have your parents donate some of their old stuff.</p>
<p>Bill-wise, if one person can afford to pay all the bills and say what you owe at the end of the month, that's easy. If not, then when a bill comes in, everyone writes a check for their part and someone pays it. Putting utilities in more than one name is a good thing for if someone leaves the house. Your landlord will probably require a deposit and background checks. The deposit can be split however many ways, and if a new person moves in, then they pay the person who moved out.</p>
<p>I think 3 roommates max is a good idea because of noise, sharing fridge space, laundry schedules, and getting along. Rooming with friends is ideal, and seeing where they lived before so you know how clean they really are. Working out a cleaning schedule or agreement for common areas is always good--like taking turns vacuuming or cleaning the kitchen.</p>